CA1202417A - Bar code indexing apparatus for a video disc system - Google Patents
Bar code indexing apparatus for a video disc systemInfo
- Publication number
- CA1202417A CA1202417A CA000420029A CA420029A CA1202417A CA 1202417 A CA1202417 A CA 1202417A CA 000420029 A CA000420029 A CA 000420029A CA 420029 A CA420029 A CA 420029A CA 1202417 A CA1202417 A CA 1202417A
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- Prior art keywords
- video disc
- bar code
- microprocessor
- indexing apparatus
- electrically coupled
- Prior art date
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Abstract
ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE
The present invention is an indexing apparatus for use in combination with a printed index which has a set of associated bar codes each of which corresponds to a unique set of items in the printed index. The indexing apparatus is electrically coupled to an information storage and retrieval system. The indexing apparatus includes a bar code reading device for reading each of the set of associated bar codes of the printed index. The indexing apparatus also includes an accessing device, electrically coupled to the bar code reading device, for accessing the unique set of items within the storage and retrieval system which corrseponds to a particular associated bar code. The storage and retrieval system includes a video disc player which has a driving mechanism and which stores information on a video disc. The accessing device includes a microprocessor which is electrically coupled to the bar code reading device from which the microprocessor receives an input signal whereby the microprocessor processes the input signal and provides an output signal which operates the driving mechanism of the video disc player so that the driving mechanism drives the video disc to the positions where the particular items are stored on the video disc.
The present invention is an indexing apparatus for use in combination with a printed index which has a set of associated bar codes each of which corresponds to a unique set of items in the printed index. The indexing apparatus is electrically coupled to an information storage and retrieval system. The indexing apparatus includes a bar code reading device for reading each of the set of associated bar codes of the printed index. The indexing apparatus also includes an accessing device, electrically coupled to the bar code reading device, for accessing the unique set of items within the storage and retrieval system which corrseponds to a particular associated bar code. The storage and retrieval system includes a video disc player which has a driving mechanism and which stores information on a video disc. The accessing device includes a microprocessor which is electrically coupled to the bar code reading device from which the microprocessor receives an input signal whereby the microprocessor processes the input signal and provides an output signal which operates the driving mechanism of the video disc player so that the driving mechanism drives the video disc to the positions where the particular items are stored on the video disc.
Description
~2~
1 B~CICG~OUN~ OF T~]E INVENT:rON
Field 'of''the 'In'vent'ion .....
The present invention relates to an indexing apparatus which is for use in combination with a pxinted index and which is electrically coupled to an information and retrieval system and more particularly to a bar-code wand-type optical reader which is electricall~ coupled to the controller of a video disc player.
'De'scrip'tion'o'f''the'P'ri'o'r Art .. .. . ..
There are presently a number of automatic and semi automatic information storage and retreival systems which are ~idely used in industry, government and universit:ies. These systems are being increasingly used in the home. All of these systems share common problems in that not only are they difficult to learn to use them and hard to use following learning, but they also have indexes to the information which are often comparable in volume, sometimes larger, than the information itself. These large indexes, are in turn also difficult to use'and make searching difficult and storing and accessin~ expensive.
I~ent D. Broadbent, in an ar-ticle, entitled "~ Review of the MC'A Disco-Vision System," published ln the Jo:ur a _ f *he Society o'f ~oti'o'n'Pic'tu're' and Television En'gineers in the July 1974 issue, in Volume 83, pages 554-559, discussed frame number encoding of the information on a video disc. Within each vertical interval a coded digital ~ord is placed and contains pseudorandom sync signals, parity check, a five decimal digit frame number and a field identification. The parity check and the pseudorandom sync signals are used to ensure that only valid data are used. A five digit display presents the number ~2~
1 o~ the frame being viewed. When the search mode is initia-ted, logic compares the present frame number with the desired frame number. The leadscrew servo initiates a fast scan of the coded digital data until it passes the desired frame number at which time the video disc player resumes normal real-time play until the desired frame is reached.
Mike Edelhart, in his artlcle, entitled "Optical Discs The Omnibus ~ledium," published in T chnol~ in Voulume 1 in the November-December, 1981 issue, on pages 42-571 discussed the use of a video disc player in combination with a microprocessor to control access to each frame on a video disc.
~lbert ~. Jamberdino, in his article, entitled "High-Capacity lligh-Speed Recording," published in ptica~
Engineering in Volume 20, Number 3r in the May/June, 1981 issue, on pages 387-393r discussed a video disc player including a disc drive and a controller into which a microprocessor is able to send a set of mode signals and address signals.
U. ~. Patent No. ~r297r0091 entitled Image Storage and Display, lssued to Reuban S. Mezrich, ~lec Colleoni and David J. Lyons on October 27r 1981r teaches a video dis]c system which includes a video disc with images and their respectively associatedly timing marks which are arrayed as phototransparencies on the video disc. When the disc drive of the video disc player rotates the video disc a sensing device senses the timing marks.
The sensing device is electrically coupled to the controller oE
the video disc player.
U. S. Pa-tent Mo. 4,2~5,2~7, entitled Hard Copy Reproduction from Video Disco Information/ issued to Bruce G~
Fike and Evan A. Edwards on January 13, 1981~ teaches a device for producing a print of information stored on a video disc.
z~
1 U. S. ~atent No. 4,199,820, entitled Random Access Storage ~pparatus wi~h a Movable Recording ~ledium, issued to Masatahi Ohtake, Takeshi Maeda and rsorishi I~umi-ta on April 22, 1980, teaches a random access storage apparatus for use in a storage apparatus wherein signals are recorded on trac]~s which have addresses assigned in advance on a rotary recording medium such as an optical video disc and which are randomly searched at high speed.
U. S. Patent No~ 4,138,663, entitled Optical Reader ~or Information DiscsEquipped with ~eans for Automatic Access to Information, issued to Jean Claude Lehureau and Pierre Ograsdi on February 6, 1979, teaches an optical reader for infor-mation discs on which the items of information are locatable by addresses previously recorded on each of the grooves formin~ a track for counting the` number of grooves traversed forming the track. ~he optical reader includes a device for counting the .number of grooves traversed during search phases which simul-taneously uses the enveIope of the reading si~nal and the signal representing the radial error in the position of -the head relative to the nearest track:Eor.algebraically counting the number of tracks traversed. A~-ter comparison with the number of grooves to be traversed, the counting device controls the deceleration of the radial advance when the spot is at a predetermined distance ~rom the groove to be reached and also its stop page and the closure of the radial servocontrol loop when the groove is reachedO
U. S. Patent No~ 4,229,808, entitled Method ~or Recording Mu]tiple Data Segments on a Storage Disc with Eccentricity Factor, iss~led to Peter W. Hui on October 21, 1980, teaches a method o~ recording multiple segments on a high-density disc such as an optical disk when the recording is done on -- 3 ~
.7 1 non-continuous basis.
U. S. Patent No. 4,0~1,270, entitled Electronic Calculator with Optical Input Means, issued to Dernard E.
~1usch and Roy E. Martin on May 23, 1978, teaches a keyless electronic calculator which includes an optical bar code reader which enters bar-coded program in~ormation, in the form of data and individual commands, into the calculator. The calcu-lator has a read-wrlte memory unit which stores the entered infor-mation, a central proceesing unit which has a read-only memory unit with pre-stored routines for processing data by executin~
the entered commands or programs under control of the pre~stored routines, and a display unit ~or displaying the entered data and e~ecution results. An alternative embodiment of -the calcula-tor includes both an optical input de~ice and a ~ceyboard. Pro~
grams, commands, and data values are printed in bar-code form on printed sheets. The user scans the appropriate data, commands and programs codes in order to enter the data and to enter and execute commands and programs.
U. S. Pa~ent No. 3,784,794, entitled Electro-optical Reader or Bar Codes or the Like, issued to David C. Allais on ~anuary 8, 1974, teaches a bar-code,wand--type optical reader for entering bar-coded data.
U. S. Patent No. 4,~39,151, entitled Method and ~pparatus for Reducing the Number of Rejected Documents When Reading Bar Codes, issued to Mats A. Enser and Nils G. Stal~erg on December 16, 1980, teaches an apparatus for reading and decoding data encoded in terms of the spacing between the adjacent code bars on a document. The apparatus includes a reading element which produces an electrical pulse for each bar recorded on the document as the bar passes the reading element. A co~lnter is used 1 to measure the -time bet~een each t~o pulses and the resultant counts are stored in a memory in the order which the pulses were produced by the readinc3 element. A microprocessor then compares this stored data with mic~rocoded data which represent properly coded digits.
U~ S. Patent No; 4,086,476, entitled Control Circuit for a Code Reading Device, issued to Ronald J. King on April 25, 19~8, teaches an optical reader control system in which a detecting device is positioned upstream and downstream of an optical reader and generates the signals that control the opera-tion of the optical reader in order to enforce the movement of a merchandise item past the optical reader within a predetermined path. A logic circuitry processes the signals of a detecting device in order to de-termine the occurence of a valid read operation by the optical reader.
SU~`VIARY OF `THE INVENI'ION
In view of the foregoing factors and conditions which are characteristic of the prior art it is the prima~y object of the present invention to provide an indexincJ apparatus for use in eombination with a printed index which can quickly and easily access information stored on a video disc.
It is another object of the present invention to provide an inde~ing apparatus for use in combination with a video disc player which enables the operator to use a printed index with associated bar codes in order to Eind information which is stored on a video disc.
In accordance with the present invention an embodiment of an indexing apparatus for use in combination with a printed index which has a set of associated bar codes each of which cor-responds to a unique set of items in the printed index is 1 described. The indexin~ apparatus is electrically coupled toan information storage and retrieval system. The indexing apparatus includes a bar code reading device for reading each of the set of associated bar codes of the printed index. The indexing apparatus also includes an accessing device, electri-cally coupled to the bar code reading device, for accessing the unique set of items within the storage and retrieval system whlch corresponds to a particular associated bar code.
The storage and retrieval system includes a video disc player which has a driving mechanism and which stores informa-tion on a video disc. The accessing device includes a microprocessor which is electrically coupled to the bar code reading device from which the mi.croprocessor receives an input signal whereby the microprocessor processes the input signal and provides an output signal which operates the drivin~ mechanism of the video disc player so that the driving mechanism drives the video disc to the positions where the particular items are stored on the video disc.
The features of the present invention which are believed to be novel are set forth with particularity in the appended claims.
Other claims and many of the attendant advantages will be more readily appreciated as the same becomes better understood by reference to the following detailed description and considered in connection with the accompanying drawing in which like reference symbols designate like parts throughout the figures.
DESCRIPTION OF THE D~A~ING
. . _ FIG. 1 is a schematic drawing of an indexing apparatus 3~ for use in combination with a printed index which has a set of , ~, .
~,~a~
1 associated bar codes each of which corresponds to a uni~ue set of items in the printed index which has been constructed in accordance with the principles o~ the present invention.
FIG. 2 is a perspective drawing of a bar code optical reader of the indexing apparatus of FIG. 1 as the ~ar code optical reader is reading a set of associated bar codes each of which corresponds to a unique set OL items in the printed index.
DESCRIPTION OF THE PRE~ERRED E~BODIMENT
In order to best understand the present invention it is necessary to refer to the following description of its preferred.embodiment in con~unction with the accompanying drawing. Referring to FIG. 1 an indexing apparatus 10 for use in combination with a printed index which has a set of associated bar codes each of which corresponds to a uni~ue set of items. in ~ the printed index. The indexing apparatus 10 is electrically coupled to an information storage and retrieval system, such as a video disc system, a magnetic.recording system, a microEiche reader or a digital audio record player. III the preferred ~ embodiment of the present invention the information storage and retrieval system is a video disc system 11 which inc].udes a video disc 12, or an optical disc, and a disc drive 13 which rotatively drives the video disc 12. The video system 11 also includes a controller 14, which is electrically coupled to the disc drive 13 and which controls the disc drive 13, and an optical playing apparatus 15, which is optically coupled to the video disc 12.
The optical playing apparatus 1~ includes a laser source 16 which is optically coupled to track/focus 17 by means o~ beam optics 18. The optical recording and playing apparatus 15 also includes an optical detector 19 which is optically coupled ~2Q2~;~7 1 to -the trac]~ Eocus 17 b~ means o~ the beam optics 1~. The optical recording and playin~ appaxatus 15 further includes input electronics 20 for receiving data therein, which is electrically coupled to-the laser source 16 and which modulates the optical signal from laser source i6 to the track focus 17, and output electronics 21 for sending data out therefrom to a video display apparatus 22, such as a television, which is electrically coupled to the optical detector 19 and which demodulates the optical signal f.rom the optical signal from the video disc 12~ The controller 14 is elec-trically coupled to the track focus 17, input electronics 20 and the output electronics 21. The controller 14 includes a first microprocessox 23 which receives mode inputs, for enabling the video disc system 11 to play, slow scan, fast scan or stop frame the information on the video disc 12, and address inputs for enabling the controller 14 to control the disc drive 13 thereby locating the stored informa-tion on the video disc 12. The disc drive 13 makes use of the frame number encoding of the information on a video disc 12 within each vertical interval a coded digital word is placed and contains pseudorandom sync signals, parity check, a five decimal digit frame number and a field iden-tification. The parity check and the pseudorandom sync signals are used to ensure that only valid data are used. A five digit display pre-sents the number of the frame being viewed. When the search mode is initiated, the first microprocessor 23 of the controller 14 compares by logic the present frame number with the desired frame number. The disc drive 13 has a leadscrew servo which initi.a-tes a fast scan of the coded digital word until it passes the desired frame number at which time the video disc system resumes normal real-time play until the desired frame is reached~
~,2~ 7 .
1 In U. S. Pa-tent No. 4,199,820 a random access storage apparatus for use in a storage apparatus wherein signals are recorded on tracks which have addresses assiyned in advance on a rotary recording medium such as an optical video disc and which are randomly searched at high speed~
In l~. S. Patent No. 4,138,663 a video disc stores items of information which are locatable by addresses previously recorded on each of the grooves which form a track for counting the number of grooves traversed. The optical reader includes a device for counting the number of grooves traversed during search phases.
. S-till referring to FIG. 1 the indexing apparatus includes a bar code reader 24 Eor reading each of the set o~
associated bar codes of the printed index and a second micro-processor 25 which is electrically coupled to the bar code reader 2~ and to the Eirst microprocessor 23 of -the controller.
The second microprocessor operates on the data input from the bar code reader 24 and provides the mode inputs and address inputs for accessing the uni~ue set of -items within the video disc system 11 which correspond to a parti.cular associated bar code. In the preferred embodiment the bar code reader 24 is similar to the bar-code t wand-type optical reader for entering bar-code data which U. S. Patent No. 3l784t794 teaches. The second microprocessor 25 includes a signal decoder 26, which is electrically coupled to the bar code reader 24, a code check 27, which is electrically coupled to the signal decoder 26, and a counter 28, which is electrically coupled -to the signal decoder 26. The second microprocessor 25 also includes an input code buffer register 29, which is electrically coupled to the 3Q code check 27 and the counter 28, a read only address memory _ g `~l2al;~4:~
1 register 30, which is elec~ically coupled -to the input code bufEer regis-ter 29, a microprogrammed con-troller 31, which is electrically coupled to the input code buffer register 29, and a read only memory 32, the input of which is electrically coupled to the read only memory address register 30 and the input of which is electrically coupled to the input of the microprogrammed controller 31. The microprogrammed controller 31 sends mode outputs and address outputs, respectively, -to the first microprocessor 23 of the controller 14.
ReEerring now to FIG. 2 a book ~0 ~rhich has a prin-ted index 41 and which has a set of associated bar codes 42 each o:E
which corresponds to a unique set of items in the printed index 41. The bar code reader 24 includes an optical detector 43 and a set of mode switches which provide the mode inputs to the second microprocessor 25 and by which the operator may select the modes and sequences of modes of frames of information on the video disc 12. The operator uses the bar code reader to obtain the address of -the frames of information on the video disc 12 and to provide the address inputs for the second microprocessor 25.
~ Through the use of bar codes the cost oE index storage can be minimized and -the di-fficulty of index searching can be significantly reduced. The purpose of the printed index is to store the information inde~ on paper~ which has better visual resolution than does television, and to use the usual English language information descriptors each of which descriptor has a bar code sequence of instruction for getting the informationO
The operator reads the bar code 42 using a bar code reader 24 without learning a query language or a keying sequence. The operator is able to generate instructions which directl.y control storage medium through the second microprocessor ~5 which ~2~ 7 1 functions as a small, ine~pensiVe bar code interface. The use of the bar code reader 2~ eli~inates errors in typing ~ueries or keying number/letters. The paper index 40 is not only inexpensive to store, but is also of a form which is familiar to the operators.
Although the information storage and retrieval system may be a digital audio record player, a magnetic tape system or a microFiche reader, perhaps the most compelling example is the video disc system ll. Both industrial and home video disc players require the operator to key in a complex, hard to learn sequence to find data with many opportunities for making an error or at least to go through a lengthy and cumbersome interactive tree-search procedure. Both types of video disc players have remote control connections to which a bar code reader 24 and special interface 25 can be connected to that interface. The index of information can be printed on paper with bar codes contraining the commands for searching. In addition to being able to store the index in a book or a pamphlet it is also possible to use more imaginative graphics. Suc~h graphics may include either a map which can have bar codes over cities or states and scanning the bar codes can retrieve pictures and movies about those areas or an organizational chart for a compan~
can have a bar code printed below the name of each division whereby scanning the bar code on the tree will retrieve graphic information about that division.
Such indexing for a video disc player does not depend on a special format ror the video discs l~o All of the currentl~
available commercial video discs systems ll can be so indexed.
Another example is that of an exercise disc which has thirty 3~ exercises for men and women which are organized for dail~ and weekly recJimenS. The indexing apparatus 10 and the printed index ~0 can be provided for a small incremental cost over the price over a video disc player and enables the operator to conveniently find information which is stored on the video disc 12.
The bar code number 42 associated with each item in the printed index 41 may be encoded in accordance with an inscription formula. The second microprocessor 25 is able to decode the encoded bar code number thereby providing pirating of the printed lndex and security for confidential information.
The second microprocessor 25 includes an inscription and description integrated circuit which has an algorithm for encoding and decoding the associated bar codes 42 along with the appro-priate mode selections.
From the foregoing it can be seen that an indexing apparatus for use in combination with a printed index which has a set of associated bar codes each of which corresponds to a unique set of items in the printed index system has been des-cribed. It should be noted -that the sketches are not drawn to scale and that distance of and between the figures are not to be ~0 considered significant.
Accordingly it is intended that the foregoing disclo-sure and showing made in the drawing shall be considered only as an illustration of the principles of the presen-t invention.
3~
1 B~CICG~OUN~ OF T~]E INVENT:rON
Field 'of''the 'In'vent'ion .....
The present invention relates to an indexing apparatus which is for use in combination with a pxinted index and which is electrically coupled to an information and retrieval system and more particularly to a bar-code wand-type optical reader which is electricall~ coupled to the controller of a video disc player.
'De'scrip'tion'o'f''the'P'ri'o'r Art .. .. . ..
There are presently a number of automatic and semi automatic information storage and retreival systems which are ~idely used in industry, government and universit:ies. These systems are being increasingly used in the home. All of these systems share common problems in that not only are they difficult to learn to use them and hard to use following learning, but they also have indexes to the information which are often comparable in volume, sometimes larger, than the information itself. These large indexes, are in turn also difficult to use'and make searching difficult and storing and accessin~ expensive.
I~ent D. Broadbent, in an ar-ticle, entitled "~ Review of the MC'A Disco-Vision System," published ln the Jo:ur a _ f *he Society o'f ~oti'o'n'Pic'tu're' and Television En'gineers in the July 1974 issue, in Volume 83, pages 554-559, discussed frame number encoding of the information on a video disc. Within each vertical interval a coded digital ~ord is placed and contains pseudorandom sync signals, parity check, a five decimal digit frame number and a field identification. The parity check and the pseudorandom sync signals are used to ensure that only valid data are used. A five digit display presents the number ~2~
1 o~ the frame being viewed. When the search mode is initia-ted, logic compares the present frame number with the desired frame number. The leadscrew servo initiates a fast scan of the coded digital data until it passes the desired frame number at which time the video disc player resumes normal real-time play until the desired frame is reached.
Mike Edelhart, in his artlcle, entitled "Optical Discs The Omnibus ~ledium," published in T chnol~ in Voulume 1 in the November-December, 1981 issue, on pages 42-571 discussed the use of a video disc player in combination with a microprocessor to control access to each frame on a video disc.
~lbert ~. Jamberdino, in his article, entitled "High-Capacity lligh-Speed Recording," published in ptica~
Engineering in Volume 20, Number 3r in the May/June, 1981 issue, on pages 387-393r discussed a video disc player including a disc drive and a controller into which a microprocessor is able to send a set of mode signals and address signals.
U. ~. Patent No. ~r297r0091 entitled Image Storage and Display, lssued to Reuban S. Mezrich, ~lec Colleoni and David J. Lyons on October 27r 1981r teaches a video dis]c system which includes a video disc with images and their respectively associatedly timing marks which are arrayed as phototransparencies on the video disc. When the disc drive of the video disc player rotates the video disc a sensing device senses the timing marks.
The sensing device is electrically coupled to the controller oE
the video disc player.
U. S. Pa-tent Mo. 4,2~5,2~7, entitled Hard Copy Reproduction from Video Disco Information/ issued to Bruce G~
Fike and Evan A. Edwards on January 13, 1981~ teaches a device for producing a print of information stored on a video disc.
z~
1 U. S. ~atent No. 4,199,820, entitled Random Access Storage ~pparatus wi~h a Movable Recording ~ledium, issued to Masatahi Ohtake, Takeshi Maeda and rsorishi I~umi-ta on April 22, 1980, teaches a random access storage apparatus for use in a storage apparatus wherein signals are recorded on trac]~s which have addresses assigned in advance on a rotary recording medium such as an optical video disc and which are randomly searched at high speed.
U. S. Patent No~ 4,138,663, entitled Optical Reader ~or Information DiscsEquipped with ~eans for Automatic Access to Information, issued to Jean Claude Lehureau and Pierre Ograsdi on February 6, 1979, teaches an optical reader for infor-mation discs on which the items of information are locatable by addresses previously recorded on each of the grooves formin~ a track for counting the` number of grooves traversed forming the track. ~he optical reader includes a device for counting the .number of grooves traversed during search phases which simul-taneously uses the enveIope of the reading si~nal and the signal representing the radial error in the position of -the head relative to the nearest track:Eor.algebraically counting the number of tracks traversed. A~-ter comparison with the number of grooves to be traversed, the counting device controls the deceleration of the radial advance when the spot is at a predetermined distance ~rom the groove to be reached and also its stop page and the closure of the radial servocontrol loop when the groove is reachedO
U. S. Patent No~ 4,229,808, entitled Method ~or Recording Mu]tiple Data Segments on a Storage Disc with Eccentricity Factor, iss~led to Peter W. Hui on October 21, 1980, teaches a method o~ recording multiple segments on a high-density disc such as an optical disk when the recording is done on -- 3 ~
.7 1 non-continuous basis.
U. S. Patent No. 4,0~1,270, entitled Electronic Calculator with Optical Input Means, issued to Dernard E.
~1usch and Roy E. Martin on May 23, 1978, teaches a keyless electronic calculator which includes an optical bar code reader which enters bar-coded program in~ormation, in the form of data and individual commands, into the calculator. The calcu-lator has a read-wrlte memory unit which stores the entered infor-mation, a central proceesing unit which has a read-only memory unit with pre-stored routines for processing data by executin~
the entered commands or programs under control of the pre~stored routines, and a display unit ~or displaying the entered data and e~ecution results. An alternative embodiment of -the calcula-tor includes both an optical input de~ice and a ~ceyboard. Pro~
grams, commands, and data values are printed in bar-code form on printed sheets. The user scans the appropriate data, commands and programs codes in order to enter the data and to enter and execute commands and programs.
U. S. Pa~ent No. 3,784,794, entitled Electro-optical Reader or Bar Codes or the Like, issued to David C. Allais on ~anuary 8, 1974, teaches a bar-code,wand--type optical reader for entering bar-coded data.
U. S. Patent No. 4,~39,151, entitled Method and ~pparatus for Reducing the Number of Rejected Documents When Reading Bar Codes, issued to Mats A. Enser and Nils G. Stal~erg on December 16, 1980, teaches an apparatus for reading and decoding data encoded in terms of the spacing between the adjacent code bars on a document. The apparatus includes a reading element which produces an electrical pulse for each bar recorded on the document as the bar passes the reading element. A co~lnter is used 1 to measure the -time bet~een each t~o pulses and the resultant counts are stored in a memory in the order which the pulses were produced by the readinc3 element. A microprocessor then compares this stored data with mic~rocoded data which represent properly coded digits.
U~ S. Patent No; 4,086,476, entitled Control Circuit for a Code Reading Device, issued to Ronald J. King on April 25, 19~8, teaches an optical reader control system in which a detecting device is positioned upstream and downstream of an optical reader and generates the signals that control the opera-tion of the optical reader in order to enforce the movement of a merchandise item past the optical reader within a predetermined path. A logic circuitry processes the signals of a detecting device in order to de-termine the occurence of a valid read operation by the optical reader.
SU~`VIARY OF `THE INVENI'ION
In view of the foregoing factors and conditions which are characteristic of the prior art it is the prima~y object of the present invention to provide an indexincJ apparatus for use in eombination with a printed index which can quickly and easily access information stored on a video disc.
It is another object of the present invention to provide an inde~ing apparatus for use in combination with a video disc player which enables the operator to use a printed index with associated bar codes in order to Eind information which is stored on a video disc.
In accordance with the present invention an embodiment of an indexing apparatus for use in combination with a printed index which has a set of associated bar codes each of which cor-responds to a unique set of items in the printed index is 1 described. The indexin~ apparatus is electrically coupled toan information storage and retrieval system. The indexing apparatus includes a bar code reading device for reading each of the set of associated bar codes of the printed index. The indexing apparatus also includes an accessing device, electri-cally coupled to the bar code reading device, for accessing the unique set of items within the storage and retrieval system whlch corresponds to a particular associated bar code.
The storage and retrieval system includes a video disc player which has a driving mechanism and which stores informa-tion on a video disc. The accessing device includes a microprocessor which is electrically coupled to the bar code reading device from which the mi.croprocessor receives an input signal whereby the microprocessor processes the input signal and provides an output signal which operates the drivin~ mechanism of the video disc player so that the driving mechanism drives the video disc to the positions where the particular items are stored on the video disc.
The features of the present invention which are believed to be novel are set forth with particularity in the appended claims.
Other claims and many of the attendant advantages will be more readily appreciated as the same becomes better understood by reference to the following detailed description and considered in connection with the accompanying drawing in which like reference symbols designate like parts throughout the figures.
DESCRIPTION OF THE D~A~ING
. . _ FIG. 1 is a schematic drawing of an indexing apparatus 3~ for use in combination with a printed index which has a set of , ~, .
~,~a~
1 associated bar codes each of which corresponds to a uni~ue set of items in the printed index which has been constructed in accordance with the principles o~ the present invention.
FIG. 2 is a perspective drawing of a bar code optical reader of the indexing apparatus of FIG. 1 as the ~ar code optical reader is reading a set of associated bar codes each of which corresponds to a unique set OL items in the printed index.
DESCRIPTION OF THE PRE~ERRED E~BODIMENT
In order to best understand the present invention it is necessary to refer to the following description of its preferred.embodiment in con~unction with the accompanying drawing. Referring to FIG. 1 an indexing apparatus 10 for use in combination with a printed index which has a set of associated bar codes each of which corresponds to a uni~ue set of items. in ~ the printed index. The indexing apparatus 10 is electrically coupled to an information storage and retrieval system, such as a video disc system, a magnetic.recording system, a microEiche reader or a digital audio record player. III the preferred ~ embodiment of the present invention the information storage and retrieval system is a video disc system 11 which inc].udes a video disc 12, or an optical disc, and a disc drive 13 which rotatively drives the video disc 12. The video system 11 also includes a controller 14, which is electrically coupled to the disc drive 13 and which controls the disc drive 13, and an optical playing apparatus 15, which is optically coupled to the video disc 12.
The optical playing apparatus 1~ includes a laser source 16 which is optically coupled to track/focus 17 by means o~ beam optics 18. The optical recording and playing apparatus 15 also includes an optical detector 19 which is optically coupled ~2Q2~;~7 1 to -the trac]~ Eocus 17 b~ means o~ the beam optics 1~. The optical recording and playin~ appaxatus 15 further includes input electronics 20 for receiving data therein, which is electrically coupled to-the laser source 16 and which modulates the optical signal from laser source i6 to the track focus 17, and output electronics 21 for sending data out therefrom to a video display apparatus 22, such as a television, which is electrically coupled to the optical detector 19 and which demodulates the optical signal f.rom the optical signal from the video disc 12~ The controller 14 is elec-trically coupled to the track focus 17, input electronics 20 and the output electronics 21. The controller 14 includes a first microprocessox 23 which receives mode inputs, for enabling the video disc system 11 to play, slow scan, fast scan or stop frame the information on the video disc 12, and address inputs for enabling the controller 14 to control the disc drive 13 thereby locating the stored informa-tion on the video disc 12. The disc drive 13 makes use of the frame number encoding of the information on a video disc 12 within each vertical interval a coded digital word is placed and contains pseudorandom sync signals, parity check, a five decimal digit frame number and a field iden-tification. The parity check and the pseudorandom sync signals are used to ensure that only valid data are used. A five digit display pre-sents the number of the frame being viewed. When the search mode is initiated, the first microprocessor 23 of the controller 14 compares by logic the present frame number with the desired frame number. The disc drive 13 has a leadscrew servo which initi.a-tes a fast scan of the coded digital word until it passes the desired frame number at which time the video disc system resumes normal real-time play until the desired frame is reached~
~,2~ 7 .
1 In U. S. Pa-tent No. 4,199,820 a random access storage apparatus for use in a storage apparatus wherein signals are recorded on tracks which have addresses assiyned in advance on a rotary recording medium such as an optical video disc and which are randomly searched at high speed~
In l~. S. Patent No. 4,138,663 a video disc stores items of information which are locatable by addresses previously recorded on each of the grooves which form a track for counting the number of grooves traversed. The optical reader includes a device for counting the number of grooves traversed during search phases.
. S-till referring to FIG. 1 the indexing apparatus includes a bar code reader 24 Eor reading each of the set o~
associated bar codes of the printed index and a second micro-processor 25 which is electrically coupled to the bar code reader 2~ and to the Eirst microprocessor 23 of -the controller.
The second microprocessor operates on the data input from the bar code reader 24 and provides the mode inputs and address inputs for accessing the uni~ue set of -items within the video disc system 11 which correspond to a parti.cular associated bar code. In the preferred embodiment the bar code reader 24 is similar to the bar-code t wand-type optical reader for entering bar-code data which U. S. Patent No. 3l784t794 teaches. The second microprocessor 25 includes a signal decoder 26, which is electrically coupled to the bar code reader 24, a code check 27, which is electrically coupled to the signal decoder 26, and a counter 28, which is electrically coupled -to the signal decoder 26. The second microprocessor 25 also includes an input code buffer register 29, which is electrically coupled to the 3Q code check 27 and the counter 28, a read only address memory _ g `~l2al;~4:~
1 register 30, which is elec~ically coupled -to the input code bufEer regis-ter 29, a microprogrammed con-troller 31, which is electrically coupled to the input code buffer register 29, and a read only memory 32, the input of which is electrically coupled to the read only memory address register 30 and the input of which is electrically coupled to the input of the microprogrammed controller 31. The microprogrammed controller 31 sends mode outputs and address outputs, respectively, -to the first microprocessor 23 of the controller 14.
ReEerring now to FIG. 2 a book ~0 ~rhich has a prin-ted index 41 and which has a set of associated bar codes 42 each o:E
which corresponds to a unique set of items in the printed index 41. The bar code reader 24 includes an optical detector 43 and a set of mode switches which provide the mode inputs to the second microprocessor 25 and by which the operator may select the modes and sequences of modes of frames of information on the video disc 12. The operator uses the bar code reader to obtain the address of -the frames of information on the video disc 12 and to provide the address inputs for the second microprocessor 25.
~ Through the use of bar codes the cost oE index storage can be minimized and -the di-fficulty of index searching can be significantly reduced. The purpose of the printed index is to store the information inde~ on paper~ which has better visual resolution than does television, and to use the usual English language information descriptors each of which descriptor has a bar code sequence of instruction for getting the informationO
The operator reads the bar code 42 using a bar code reader 24 without learning a query language or a keying sequence. The operator is able to generate instructions which directl.y control storage medium through the second microprocessor ~5 which ~2~ 7 1 functions as a small, ine~pensiVe bar code interface. The use of the bar code reader 2~ eli~inates errors in typing ~ueries or keying number/letters. The paper index 40 is not only inexpensive to store, but is also of a form which is familiar to the operators.
Although the information storage and retrieval system may be a digital audio record player, a magnetic tape system or a microFiche reader, perhaps the most compelling example is the video disc system ll. Both industrial and home video disc players require the operator to key in a complex, hard to learn sequence to find data with many opportunities for making an error or at least to go through a lengthy and cumbersome interactive tree-search procedure. Both types of video disc players have remote control connections to which a bar code reader 24 and special interface 25 can be connected to that interface. The index of information can be printed on paper with bar codes contraining the commands for searching. In addition to being able to store the index in a book or a pamphlet it is also possible to use more imaginative graphics. Suc~h graphics may include either a map which can have bar codes over cities or states and scanning the bar codes can retrieve pictures and movies about those areas or an organizational chart for a compan~
can have a bar code printed below the name of each division whereby scanning the bar code on the tree will retrieve graphic information about that division.
Such indexing for a video disc player does not depend on a special format ror the video discs l~o All of the currentl~
available commercial video discs systems ll can be so indexed.
Another example is that of an exercise disc which has thirty 3~ exercises for men and women which are organized for dail~ and weekly recJimenS. The indexing apparatus 10 and the printed index ~0 can be provided for a small incremental cost over the price over a video disc player and enables the operator to conveniently find information which is stored on the video disc 12.
The bar code number 42 associated with each item in the printed index 41 may be encoded in accordance with an inscription formula. The second microprocessor 25 is able to decode the encoded bar code number thereby providing pirating of the printed lndex and security for confidential information.
The second microprocessor 25 includes an inscription and description integrated circuit which has an algorithm for encoding and decoding the associated bar codes 42 along with the appro-priate mode selections.
From the foregoing it can be seen that an indexing apparatus for use in combination with a printed index which has a set of associated bar codes each of which corresponds to a unique set of items in the printed index system has been des-cribed. It should be noted -that the sketches are not drawn to scale and that distance of and between the figures are not to be ~0 considered significant.
Accordingly it is intended that the foregoing disclo-sure and showing made in the drawing shall be considered only as an illustration of the principles of the presen-t invention.
3~
Claims (4)
1. An indexing apparatus for use in combination with a printed index which has a set of associated bar codes each of which corresponds to a unique set of items in the printed index wherein said indexing apparatus is electrically coupled to an information storage and retrieval system, said indexing apparatus comprising:
a. bar code reading means for reading each of the set of associated bar codes of the printed index; and b. accessing means for accessing the unique set of items within the storage and retrieval system which correspond to a particular associated bar code, said accessing means being electrically coupled to said bar code reading means;
wherein said storage and retrieval system includes a video disc player which has a driving mechanism and which stores information on a video disc and wherein said accessing means comprises:
a. a microprocessor which is electrically coupled to said bar code reading means from which said micro-processor receives an input signal whereby said micro-processor processes said input signal and provides an output signal which operates the driving mechanism of the video disc player so that the driving mechanism drives the video disc to the positions where the particular set of items are stored on the video disc.
2. An indexing apparatus according to claim 1 wherein said storage and retrieval system includes a video disc player which stores information on a video disc and which has a driving mechanism, which rotatively drives the video
a. bar code reading means for reading each of the set of associated bar codes of the printed index; and b. accessing means for accessing the unique set of items within the storage and retrieval system which correspond to a particular associated bar code, said accessing means being electrically coupled to said bar code reading means;
wherein said storage and retrieval system includes a video disc player which has a driving mechanism and which stores information on a video disc and wherein said accessing means comprises:
a. a microprocessor which is electrically coupled to said bar code reading means from which said micro-processor receives an input signal whereby said micro-processor processes said input signal and provides an output signal which operates the driving mechanism of the video disc player so that the driving mechanism drives the video disc to the positions where the particular set of items are stored on the video disc.
2. An indexing apparatus according to claim 1 wherein said storage and retrieval system includes a video disc player which stores information on a video disc and which has a driving mechanism, which rotatively drives the video
Claim 2 continued....
disc, and a first microprocessor, which receives mode inputs and address inputs, wherein said accessing means comprises:
a. a second microprocessor which is electrically coupled to said bar code reading means from which said micro-processor receives an input signal whereby said micro-processor processes said input signal and generates a set of output signals, which are said mode inputs and said address inputs, wherein said second microprocessor is electrically coupled to the first microprocessor of the video disc player so that the first microprocessor controls the driving mechanism as the driving mechanism rotatively drives the video disc to the positions where the particular set of items are stored on the video disc.
disc, and a first microprocessor, which receives mode inputs and address inputs, wherein said accessing means comprises:
a. a second microprocessor which is electrically coupled to said bar code reading means from which said micro-processor receives an input signal whereby said micro-processor processes said input signal and generates a set of output signals, which are said mode inputs and said address inputs, wherein said second microprocessor is electrically coupled to the first microprocessor of the video disc player so that the first microprocessor controls the driving mechanism as the driving mechanism rotatively drives the video disc to the positions where the particular set of items are stored on the video disc.
3. An indexing apparatus according to claim 1 wherein the printed index is a map which has areas designated by name and which has a unique bar code associated with each area whereby an operator may use said bar code reading means to retrieve pictures and other information regarding a particular area on the map.
4. An indexing apparatus according to claim 1 wherein the printed index is an organizational chart on which divisions of a comapny are designated by name and each of which has a unique bar code associated with the name of each division whereby an operator may use said bar code reading means to retrieve information regarding a particular division of the company.
Applications Claiming Priority (2)
| Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
|---|---|---|---|
| US34145682A | 1982-01-21 | 1982-01-21 | |
| US341,456 | 1982-01-21 |
Publications (1)
| Publication Number | Publication Date |
|---|---|
| CA1202417A true CA1202417A (en) | 1986-03-25 |
Family
ID=23337658
Family Applications (1)
| Application Number | Title | Priority Date | Filing Date |
|---|---|---|---|
| CA000420029A Expired CA1202417A (en) | 1982-01-21 | 1983-01-21 | Bar code indexing apparatus for a video disc system |
Country Status (1)
| Country | Link |
|---|---|
| CA (1) | CA1202417A (en) |
-
1983
- 1983-01-21 CA CA000420029A patent/CA1202417A/en not_active Expired
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